JPS6087065A - Printing condition changing-over method for thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to contrive to reduce the number of component parts of a printing changing-over means and the number of assembling steps, by changing over from ribbon printing to thermal printing or vice versa by only a ribbon end sensor for detecting the trailing end of a thermal transfer ribbon. CONSTITUTION:When a power source is turned ON, a master CPU 23 is inputted with a signal from the ribbon end sensor 18. When the presence of the ribbon is detected, the CPU 23 sets a status for ribbon printing, and when the presence is not detected, the CPU 23 sets a status for thermal printing, and stores the status into a slave CPU 24. When the CPU outputs signals for printing after receiving data, the status is discriminated, and in the case of ribbon printing, the CPU 23 feeds a heating pulse to an I/O port 25 for heating a head, thereby printing through the thermal transfer ribbon. On the other hand, in the case of thermal printing, thermal printing is conducted directly on a thermal printing paper. Accordingly, the number of component parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and an optimum heating time can be easily set.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a ribbon printing means for performing thermal transfer printing on plain paper using a thermal transfer ribbon, and a thermal printing means for directly printing on thermal paper without using the ribbon. The present invention relates to a printing state switching method in a thermal printer, in which the selection of the printing means described above can be accurately obtained using only a ribbon end sensor.

Conventionally, in printers that can perform both ribbon printing by thermal transfer and thermal printing without ribbon, when switching the printing means, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, a dedicated changeover switch is used. (1), and the ribbon end is detected by a separately provided ribbon end sensor (2). Note that (3) indicates the ribbon end l'', and (4) indicates the printer. Therefore, two selection mechanisms are required, and the number of parts per assembly and assembly increases the number of steps and costs, and furthermore, when starting the printer, This required confirmation of the changeover switch (1) or switching operation thereof, which was extremely inconvenient.

1-1 sheet In view of the above conventional example, the present invention provides a ribbon end sensor 1.
By using a single unit, it can also be used to detect the end of the thermal transfer ribbon and automatically control the switching of the printing means, reducing the number of steps required for sensor parts and assembly, contributing to equipment simplification and cost reduction. It's in the printing state switching method.

Next, the present invention will be explained based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 2, a printer (10) has printing means for both ribbon printing using a thermal transfer ribbon and thermal printing not using the ribbon, and has a thermal transfer ribbon (11).
) is the ribbon cassette (12) that contains the main body of the device (13).
It is designed so that it can be attached and detached.

To attach and detach the ribbon cassette (12), connect the locking part (14) that protrudes from the surface area of the ribbon cassette (12) to the engaging part (16) that is provided on the frame (15) of the main body (13) of the device. It can be installed by fitting it from the ribbon cassette (
12) There is no structure that allows it to be removed by pulling it upward.

On the other hand, at the ribbon payout position in the ribbon cassette (12), a window hole (19) is provided at the bottom of the ribbon cassette (12) so that the ribbon end sensor (18) that can be picked up by the frame (17) can face the ribbon end sensor (18). By assembling the ribbon cassette (12) to the frame (15), the ribbon end sensor (18) can face the ribbon (11) on the feeding side, so that the presence of the ribbon (11) can be constantly detected. It is.

In this embodiment, the ribbon end sensor (18) uses a fort sensor to straddle the ribbon (11) and has a structure in which the presence of the ribbon (11) can be optically detected.

In addition, in the illustration, the symbol (20) indicates the thermal head mounted on the carriage (21), and (22) the thermal head mounted on the carriage (21).
is the platen.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the operation control of the ribbon end sensor (18).

Turn on the power switch (not shown) on the printer (10) or the mask to which this printer is attached.
, the master CPU (23) inputs the signal of the ribbon end sensor (18), and if this sensor detects the presence of the ribbon (11), sets and stores the ribbon printing status. .

On the other hand, in the above, if the ribbon end sensor (18) does not detect the presence of the ribbon (11), the master CPU
(23) sets the thermal printing status,
Remember.

Next, master cpυ (23) glass i/-bu CPt1
(24) Transfer the status of the above set and store the same status inside the slave CPU (24).

Then, master ct+u (23) receives the data,
At the stage of outputting print, the status of the set ribbon printing/thermal printing is judged, and in the case of ribbon printing,
Set the heating time for ribbon printing, send a heating pulse to the head heating layer I10 port (25), and print the ribbon for thermal transfer (
11). Also, when the CaliRad (21) returns, the slave CPU (24)
1) and determines the status of ribbon feed motor (26).
The driver (27) is controlled to drive this.

11, for thermal printing, use the master CPIJ (
23) changes the thermal printing status to Cera 1 according to the signal from the ribbon end sensor (18), and in this case,
Set the heating time for thermal printing and use I10 for head heating.
The heating pulse is sent to the boat (25) to perform thermal printing. Furthermore, when the carriage (21) returns, the slave CPU (24) determines the status of thermal printing and keeps the ribbon feed motor (26) in a non-driving state.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the operation when the power is turned on, and the light from the ribbon end sensor (18) is transmitted to the ribbon (11).
) is blocked or not, the status of ribbon printing or thermal printing is selected.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of print output.

Therefore, by either ribbon printing or thermal printing, the thermal head (20) performs printing with a heating time set, and heating printing at an appropriate temperature can be automatically obtained.

Further, in this case, the drive of the ribbon feed motor (26) at the time of carriage return is determined and controlled based on either ribbon printing or thermal printing. In addition, in the flowchart, the space motor is the carriage (2
1) is the drive motor.

Since the printing state switching method of the present invention is as described above, ribbon/thermal printing can be accurately switched using only the ribbon end sensor, the printing switching mechanism can be extremely simplified, and the printing switching means can be easily switched. This can greatly contribute to reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps, and can contribute to reducing costs.

Furthermore, by determining the ribbon/thermal printing condition, it is possible to reliably set the optimum heating time for the thermal head during ribbon printing and thermal printing.

In the case of thermal printing, power consumption can be reduced by stopping the drive of the ribbon feed motor, which can greatly contribute to energy savings and noise prevention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing operation control of the ribbon end sensor, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the power-on state of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of print output. (10)・・・・・・Prireta (11)・・・・・・Ribbon (12)・・・・・・Ribbon power set I・(I8)
...... Ribbon end sensor (20)...
・・・・・・Thermal head (26)・・・・・・・・・
・Ribbon feeding motor patent applicant Ricoh Co., Ltd. Ricoh Electronics Co., Ltd. Representative Patent attorney Shunsuke Nakao

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer that can perform both ribbon printing using a thermal transfer ribbon and thermal printing without using a ribbon, a ribbon cassette is set when the printer is turned on using a ribbon end sensor that detects the end of the thermal transfer ribbon. and the sensor detects the presence of the ribbon, the printer is kept in the ribbon printing state, and if the ribbon cassette is not set and the sensor detects the absence of the ribbon, the printer is kept in the ribbon printing state. is maintained in a thermal printing state, and the drive of the ribbon feed motor and the switching of the heating time of the thermal head are automatically controlled by the signal from the sensor in response to both of the above printing states. How to change the printing status in a thermal printer.